Portable camper cabin



y 1969 w. M. PETERSEN 3,455,310

PORTABLE CAMPER CABIN Filed Oct. 18, 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. WALTER M. PETERSEN July 15, 1969 w. M. PETERSEN 3, 5

PORTABLE CAMPER CABIN Filed Oct. 18, 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

WALTER M. PETERSEN July 15, 1969 w. M. PETERSEN PORTABLE CAMPER CABIN 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed 001;. 18, 1967 lNl ENTOR WALTER M. PETERSEN United States Patent 3,455,310 PORTABLE CAMPER CABIN Walter M. Petersen, Ojai, Calif. (3358 Lorna Vista Road, Ventura, Calif. 93003) Filed Oct. 18, 1967, Ser. No. 680,290 Int. Cl. A45f l/04; E04b 1/343 US. Cl. 135-2 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The framework of the invention is constructed mainly of metal tubing for the roof structure and metal framing for the wall sections. Covering material is canvas or other related material for the roof and fiber-glass cloth or similar material for the walls. The windows are of fiber-glass screen, or other substituted material including cellophane, protected by hinged shutters.

The metal frame wall sections are hinged-joined except at two detachable points, therefore permitting folding and carriage in a manner suitable for transport. In the assembled configuration, the wall sections are locked rigidly in place from two sources, one of which results from a mounting channel secured along the top of the structure, while the other is the result of an attachment of the wall sections to the floor at their base.

The roof structure contains six tubular roof members which radiate from a central ring assembly medium to the assembled wall sections. The central ring assembly is secured to a metal pipe referred to herein as a ring guide. The ring guide also accommodates a secondary ring assembly which is permitted to slide freely up or down the ring guide. This is referred to herein as the auxiliary ring assembly which functions as an attachment to six tubular support arms. In turn, the tubular support arms are attached to and lend support to the tubular roof members. This is accomplished by securing the auxiliary ring assembly to the ring guide at a point where a bowing eifect is transmitted to the roof structure.

The object and the function of the framework are for the roof structure and the wall sections to complement each other in such a manner as to form a rigid shelter of lightweight material. This is mainly achieved by the compressive results transmitted from the six tubular support arms to the entire structure.

The [floor of the shelter is constructed of plywood or any other applicable material containing several hinged sections which may be folded into a box-like configuration for the collapsed contents of the shelter during transport as described in detail herein.

The several objects of this shelter, as further explained herein, mainly include ease of assembly and disassembly, rigidity of structure and comfort to the occupants in the assembled configuration, and simplicity of transport in the portable configuration.

The object and advantage of this invention is apparent from the accompanying drawings supporting this specification in which like numerals are employed to designate and identify like parts.

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the shelter with part of the roof covering cut away exposing the roof structure and the interior.

FIGURE 2 is a front elevation view with the roof covering removed showing the roof structure.

FIGURE 3 is a part front elevation, part section view showing the partially collapsed roof structure and portions of the wall section frame structure, mounting channel and floor.

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the floor as it appears in the unfolded configuration for accommodating the assembled shelter.

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the floor as it appears in the partially folded configuration for transporting the contents of the shelter.

FIGURE 6 is a side view of the central ring assembly, the auxiliary ring assembly, air vent, ring guide, and partial view of the tubular roof members and the tubular support arms.

FIGURE 7 is a bottom view of the auxiliary ring assembly, ring guide, and a partial view of the tubular support arms.

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of the corner wall bracket.

FIGURE 9 is a top view of the mounting channel illustrating the method of securing a main tubular roof member to the lip of the corner wall bracket.

FIGURE 10 is a side view of the same parts as described in FIGURE 9.

Reference is now made to these figures in detail beginning with the general descriptive construction of my portable camper cabin at 1, FIGURE 1. The shelter is composed of rectangular wall sections, typically 3, which are metal frames, typically 2, joined together with hinges between each frame at typically 4 except that the wall sections are detachable at 5 and 5-A. This provides for the folding of the wall sections 3 into two separate units for convenience in handling and for ease of transport.

The wall sections 3 and window shutters 7 are covered with fiber-glass cloth or similar flexible material, while the windows 6 are fitted with fiber-glass screens or similar material. It is noted here that transparent material such as cellophane may be substituted for window screens.

The window shutters 7 are hinged to the wall section frames at 8 which permits them to be lowered or raised. The window shutters 7 can be retained in the raised position by the use of two braces 9 attached to each shutter. These are fitted into the wall section frames 2 when in the raised position and folded down when the shutters are closed and locked into the mullion frame 10'. The closed position allows for privacy and for protection to the occupants during inclement weather conditions.

The door 11 is an integral part of the shelter. It is constructed of a metal frame covered with the same type material as that of the wall sections. The door 11 is hinged to the inside of a typical wall section at 12. While in the closed position, the door is latched to the wall section at 13.

In the assembled configuration, the wall sections 3 are held rigidly in place in a rectangular shape by mounting channels 14, FIGURES 3, 9 and 10, and by attachment to the floor 26 at 25, FIGURE 3.

The roof structure contains six tubular roof members 15, FIGURE 1 and FIGURE 2, which radiate from a central ring assembly at 16, FIGURE 6. Four main tubular roof members 15 are supported at the four corners of the shelter at 17, FIGURE 1, each being attached into the corner wall bracket lip 17 in the manner illustrated in FIGURES 9 and 10. The remaining two tubular roof members 15 are fitted into the mounting channel 14 at 17-A, FIGURE 1.

A corner wall bracket 24, FIGURE 8, is bolted to each of the four corners of the shelter securing the wall sections thereby lending support and rigidity to the assembled configuration. Accordingly the corner wall brackets serve the dual purpose of support to the shelter and the 3 accommodation for the four main tubular roof members 15 which are attached thereto at 17, FIGURES l, 9 and 10.

The central ring assembly at 16 from which the six tubular roof members 15 radiate, is permanently secured to the ring guide 18, FIGURE 6. From the auxiliary ring assembly at 19', FIGURE 7, radiate six tubular support arms 20 which are connected to and lend support to the six tubular roof members 15, FIGURE 6. This is accomplished by moving the auxiliary ring assembly 19 up the ring guide 18 to a point where a bowing effect is transmitted to the connecting six tubular roof members 15 as illustrated at FIGURES 1 and 2. The auxiliary ring assembly 19, being freely adjustable, is secured at the desired position by inserting the pin stop through the ring guide at 21, FIGURES 6 and 7.

Another function of the auxiliary ring assembly 19 is to provide tautness to the roof covering 22, FIGURE 1. This is accomplished by placing the roof covering, which is canvas or similar pliable material, over the roof structure While the auxiliary ring assembly 19 is in the unsecured and therefore relaxed condition. Once the roof covering is secured, the auxiliary ring assembly 19 is pushed up along the ring guide 18 to the desired point thus transmitting a bowing effect to the tubular roof members 15 resulting in tautness to the roof covering 22.

The ring guide 18, FIGURE 6, serves several purposes. Basically it is a hollow section of thin pipe onto which the central ring assembly 16 is permanently secured and about which the auxiliary ring assembly 19 may be freely adjusted and/or secured. It also accommodates an air vent 23 which serves the purpose of releasing the column of warm air which ordinarily collects inside the top of the conventional type tent on very warm days.

Disassembly of the shelter is accomplished by first re moving the pin stop at 21 therefore releasing the auxiliary ring guide assembly 19. This relaxes the roof covering 22 permitting its removal. The six tubular roof members 15 are then disconnected at points 17 and 17-A, FIGURE 1, and collapsed as illustrated in FIGURE 3. Next the four corner wall brackets 24 and the mounting channels 14 are removed. The wall sections 3 are then unsecured from the floor 26 at typically 25, FIGURE 3, and unlatched at and 5-A, FIGURE 1. The wall sections 3 can now be folded into two separate units for convenient transport.

Next the floor 26 is folded upon its hinges 27 from the configuration illustrated in FIGURE 4 to that in FIG- URE 5 which shows the floor partially folded in preparation for transporting the contents of the shelter. Each individual part of the floor has an identifying numerical designation as shown in FIGURE 4. Each individual part is accordingly represented and identified in the partially folded configuration as shown in FIGURE 5.

The floor is in two sections, 26 and 26-A. Each floor section is hinged at 27, FIGURES 4 and 5. It is constructed of plywood or any other applicable material which is reinforced with ribs typically 28, FIGURES 3 and 5. In addition to reinforcing the floor, the ribs 28 also serve the purpose of permitting the floor 26 and 26A to be laid upon uneven terrain and to be elevated slightly above the ground in the event of dampness.

Having now therefore described my invention, I claim:

1. A foldable, portable, light weight shelter enclosure embracing a roof framework comprising a plurality of roof members extending outwardly and downwardly from a central medium having a means of suspension and of providing compression bracing to said roof members for support and rigidity to said roof framework in combination with a means of attachment of said roof members to a rectangularly secured plurality of hingedly joined, vertically upright wall sections; a transmission of compression from said plurality of roof members radiating from said central medium to the said joined'wall sections providing structural rigidity to the assembled shelter is further sustained by a special bracket attachment at each of the four corners of said assembled shelter into which four of said roof members are secured; rigidity is further sustained by special mounting channels fitted onto and along the top of said wall sections into which two of said roof members are secured at the center of each of the two longitudinal sides; a vent providing ventilation for said shelter in combination with the central medium, said vent being an integral part of said central medium; a flexible material supported and secured to said roof members forming a roof covering and similar material secured to and covering the said wall sections, forming a shelter enclosure; said shelter enclosure being secured to and in combination with a foldable planar base of firm nonflexible material, having two sections, one larger than the other, each containing a plurality of parts hingedly united upon a common plane forming a shelter floor; wherein attachments on the marginal edges of said base being secured to the said wall sections form a continuous, rectangular, rigid wall about the perimeter; whereas, in the inoperative position, parts of said base thereto being foldable, said parts of the main body of the larger base section are folded along their longitudinal axes from each side toward the center upon five parallel parts hingedly united forming a top, two sides and a bottom; lastly the end parts hingedly united in six parts are folded forming two ends, two parts of which are perpendicular to the said main body thereof and four parts partially framing the exterior of said main body in parallel fashion, collectively forming a box, whereas said shelter enclosure, being foldable and therefore collapsible, is contained therein while in the inoperative position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,864,389 12/1958 Smith et al. 2 3,044,129 7/1962 Bigelow 52-71 3,333,373 8/1967 Taylor et a1. 135-2 KENNETH DOWNEY, Primary Examiner 

